Surprisingly, to many, after Imran Khan, it is Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari who has run a campaign in this build-up to election that is worth the name. His visit to interior Sindh was always on the cards but his tour of Punjab (and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) against great odds has been noticed, even if it is not going to get the PPP enough votes where it can be considered a threat to domination of the PML-N and PTI in the province.

The PPP has generated more positive vibes through Bilawal in the KP and Punjab poll campaigns than it has in the last five years overall.

Someone has likened election 2018 to the general poll held in 2002 when the PML-N was in a quandary but still managed to win many seats in Lahore, the most eagerly contested city which formed the basis of the PTI movement against rigging after the 2013 election. The difference between 2002 and 2018 is the PTI challenge now as opposed to the rather meek PML- Q-PPP opposition then.

The feeling amongst everyone is that the PML-N voters will come out in large numbers to the surprise of all. This is an assertion based on experience but at the same time the PML-N leadership has to ensure that its own cadres do not fall prey to the impression.

Read here how Asha’ar Rehman thinks PPP may fare against PML-N and PTI in Punjab.